Oregon Fishing Update

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro - Catches of sturgeon in the Bonneville area continue to drop as keepers got culled from the population from the higher effort in the month of October. Fishery managers will be weighing further cutbacks in the 2010 quota as it appears keeper range fish are seeing a downturn in population.

Salmon effort is non-existent at Bonneville but a few anglers remain persistent trolling the mouth of the Sandy River. Catches here have slowed as recent rain freshets sent anxious adults to the spawning grounds and hatcheries upriver.

Water temperature at Willamette Falls as of November 2nd had dropped to 52 degrees. An average of about 200 coho per day were crossing in the last week of October with the YTD total about 24,000. Sturgeon fishing is fair at best in the Portland Harbor.

The McKenzie has been challenging but is producing some redsides.

The mainstem, North and South Santiams are open for coho. A few are as high as the Little North Fork with catches reported at Greens Bridge and Jefferson.

Eagle Creek on the Clackamas is crowded and off-color with mostly dark coho present but it is producing a few bright fish.

Sandy's Cedar Creek came up over the weekend and was muddy on Monday. Returning adult coho are expected throughout the month and with the recent extension, anglers should have good opportunity for bright fish for another few weeks.

Most moving water closed to trout fishing at the end of October. Check regulations for your favorite body of water.

Junction City Pond was stocked Friday, October 30th with legal and larger trout. Limits of trout averaging 12 inches are being caught by boat and bank anglers in the low water at Henry Hagg Lake.

Day-use fees will be waived at Federal Forest Service sites on Veterans Day, November 11th.

Northwest - Chinook catches in Tillamook have improved slightly with most chinook being taken in the Ghost Hole. The large tide series currently underway should put fish into the estuary into the coming weekend. Most fish are averaging between 20 and 24 pounds with an occasional 30 pounder in the mix.

Upper Tillamook Bay has been producing an occasional chinook but the bulk of the effort is now concentrated on the lower bay. Later returning fish are typically destined for the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers triggering most anglers to target the east side of the estuary.

The Wilson tidewater has had small schools of fish available to bobber and fly fishers. More fish should stage there until the next rain freshet sends them upstream. That rain freshet is due to hit over the weekend.

Coastal rivers did see a significant rise last weekend that pushed chinook and coho into all major watersheds. Good fishing was short lived however as flows dropped quickly and the lack of adults this season had anglers looking elsewhere early in the week.

Chum salmon are present in the Wilson, Kilchis and Miami Rivers and must be released unharmed.

Another storm system may put coastal systems out again but when water levels drop back in, the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers should be good fishing for chinook and an occasional chum salmon. The Nestucca should also produce fair catches this late in the season.

Although crabbing has improved in many coast estuaries, strong tides will keep crabbers from witnessing good catches over the weekend. An excellent crab tide series takes place just before Thanksgiving.

Southwest - With the ocean kicking up this weekend, boaters will be unable to launch anywhere on the southwest Oregon coast.

Coho are being taken on the mainstem Umpqua but most are wild.

While the Tahkenitch wild coho fishery has been slow, Siltcoos, while crowded, has been producing some fish. Silvers are scattered with a concentration at the outlet. Troll Wiggle Warts or spinners to take fish here.

With fresh chinook moving into the Coos, catches picked up slightly but it has been spotty.

Trollers are taking fair catches of chinook on the lower Coquille. The wild coho fishery remains open here with about 50% of the quota filled but it has been slow.

Catches in Rogue Bay have continued to slow as rain draws fish upstream. Fish have been caught at the mouth of Indian Creek. Early and late in the day is most productive. Bank anglers are also scoring here.

Chinook moved upriver on the Chetco with recent precipitation. Fishing is scheduled to open above the Highway 101 Bridge starting Saturday, November 7th but low water and flow may keep it closed.

Anglers have taken some large chinook at the mouth of the Elk River with a 58-pounder landed on Halloween.

Eastern - Paulina has been kicking out some jumbo brown trout. See the subscription version of TGF for more along with a photo of a 14-pounder.

Steelheading has been consistent on the lower Deschutes where water temperatures are staring to drop.

Although the Imnaha water level is low, steelheading has been good.

While results have been spotty one day to the next, Grande Ronde steelheaders have made some good catches.

John Day anglers are getting their season underway with catches from both boat and bank anglers underway. Action should begin to ramp up in the coming weeks with a peak towards the Thanksgiving holiday. Improvements are going to be made to LaPage Park in the near future so anglers are encouraged to call the responsible office before driving all the way up there. The Army Corps office number is (541) 506-7819.